I have been trying to assess the most pressing needs for this team (top-six winger, depth defenseman, a new backup?) and with the recent signing of free agent Eaton, I believe the most pressing need is a top six winger, as is pretty obvious from the lack of scoring on the second line aside from Malkin and Neal (before the injury to Malkin).

Here's a list of potentially available pending UFA wingers (with current season stats) from teams currently out of playoff contention (bottom 4 of each conference) if they were to start this week:

Obviously, my first choice would be Iginla off of that list, but what will be the asking price from Calgary in return? I would imagine a first round pick, plus a current roster player (top-9 forward like Kennedy) and a blue-chip prospect at D would be sufficient for a rental UFA. I would forget about Hejduk or Kovalev as they seem to be in the twilight of their careers, but I would curious to see how Prospal could fit alongside Crosby or Malkin.

What are your toughts? What if (in a worst case scenario) Malkin is gone for the season with severe and persistent post-concussion symptoms? Do the Pens then refocus their energy on acquiring a UFA center at the deadline, such as Ribeiro (WAS) or Weiss (FLA)?

Iginla - Top priority if they are serious about a legit cup run (ala Hossa pickup). Iggy addresses everything from "LEADERSHIP" to team toughness that the Pens could almost certainly use. I would be so excited to have him in a Pens uniform even if it is only for a couple lf months. This guy is all class.

Kovalev - Pfft.

The rest - Take it or leave em, wouldn't mind them on the team, but wouldn't break out in hysterics if they got any of them.

I'd be kind of disappointed if it is b, because I'm less confident this team can win a Cup as currently constituted (and I mean with a healthy Geno). I don't think its a major overhaul, but a couple small moves could help (e.g., an aggressive, reckless, lower line presence would be nice).

As soon as Malkin was out, I mentioned Prospal. That would be for now to play center on the second till he was gone then move to wing when he returned. I think he's useful and could be had at a reasonable price.

I'd be kind of disappointed if it is b, because I'm less confident this team can win a Cup as currently constituted (and I mean with a healthy Geno). I don't think its a major overhaul, but a couple small moves could help (e.g., an aggressive, reckless, lower line presence would be nice).

I just hope they do nothing. Only trading pieces I wouldn't mind giving up are Niskanen, Kennedy, 2nd. Whats the best that could get us? I'm saying this and also saying that they should not give up Niskanen until the end of the season.

I just hope they do nothing. Only trading pieces I wouldn't mind giving up are Niskanen, Kennedy, 2nd. Whats the best that could get us? I'm saying this and also saying that they should not give up Niskanen until the end of the season.

I kind of agree.. I really feel like this team is good enough to win it all, but then again I did last year too...

I think Shero will obviously see what's out there and if he gets a value he likes pull the trigger, but I don't think there's some pressing need to overspend for a trade...

Wouldn't be surprised to see a Guerin / Roberts / Poni /Kovalev, etc... type of low-risk that may or may not work type of trade

Iginla is going to be too expensive. If you think adding Iginla will make this team instant cup contenders, then it would be worth it, but I personally don't think it does.

With the addition of Cole in Dallas, they will likely be shopping Morrow, and I think the Pens could get him for cheap (2nd-3rd round pick/ one of the lesser defensive prospects). Morrow's career is starting to go downhill but he can still hit, work the boards, and fight in front of the net. His lack of speed would limit him to playing on Malkin or Sutter's line, imo.

Pitts wrote:If Malkin is out for much longer, I expect Stephen Weiss to be a Pen soon. Although, for some reason (groin?), he's having a bad season so far. But, he is 2nd line center material.

I've been on the Iginla train since last season.

I like Weiss in a vacuum as a player to compliment our stars, and the fact that he's a natural center capable of playing wing only makes him more desirable. But I feel this team is approaching the "soff" label it once had. That might be an exaggeration, as Kunitz, Cooke, Orpik, Letang, and Glass skate regular shifts, but I'd rather see some bigger bodies with a little snarl find their way to Pittsburgh, as the playoffs aren't for the faint of heart. Guys like Weiss and P-M Bouchard are quality players who would be welcomed additions in my book -- if there was a bit more snarl up and down the lineup. That said, don't think for a second I'd be disappointed with a Weiss addition...but I'd be pulling for someone else to balance him out.

JoseCuervo wrote:Iginla is going to be too expensive. If you think adding Iginla will make this team instant cup contenders, then it would be worth it, but I personally don't think it does.

With the addition of Cole in Dallas, they will likely be shopping Morrow, and I think the Pens could get him for cheap (2nd-3rd round pick/ one of the lesser defensive prospects). Morrow's career is starting to go downhill but he can still hit, work the boards, and fight in front of the net. His lack of speed would limit him to playing on Malkin or Sutter's line, imo.

Nice observation. I would love to add Morrow to the mix, as he's my all-time favorite non-Penguin. I love his game, and even as he declines, his physicality as a "third wheel" on one of the top-two lines would be fantastic.

I could see him working well with either center. Ideally, he'd play with Malkin, keeping Crosby's line in tact. But Kunitz helped bring success to the Malkin line and Morrow is a workmanlike player, making him the prototypical Crosby winger.

I mentioned in a response to Pitts above that I would only like to see a Weiss-like player if a gritty player also was brought in to balance things out. Here's the guy.

Kennedy gets dealt in a trade, Bennett returns to WBS to get big-time minutes and gain experience before a permanent call-up next season, and the new new players each take a wing with a star. I hate to "demote" Dupuis, as he's performed so well with Crosby, but bumping him to his more prototypical role creates depth down the lineup that current is missing.

I don't recall Guerin as an Islander, but the change of scenery for Morrow could spark a burst of energy for 30 games. He would be cheap to acquire and has a medium reward ceiling. It allows for pieces to spent in other facets of the game such as acquiring one more defenseman and perhaps some solid 3rd and 4th liners (since that is the fun thing to complain about)

I'm aware he's slowing down drastically and that his physical style of play has worn him down to the point that he's a shadow of what he once was. But he's also been given a reduced role in Dallas and has seen the team transition from his to Benn's. It's got to be a difficult position for a player for that to happen. I could see a new home and a legitimate Cup opportunity fueling a short-term resurgence the way it did for Guerin, who appeared to be washed up on Long Island before he was acquired in the trade.